oPt Emergency Situation Update – Issue 14 (7 October – 23 November 2023) – WHO

23 November 2023

UPDATES

• Only 8 hospitals in the south ( Deir Albalah, Khan Younis and Rafah) are partially functional.
• In addition, 2 hospitals in Gaza and the north are functioning at an extremely limited basic capacity.
• On November 18, a joint UN humanitarian assessment team, led by WHO accessed Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza to assess the situation on the ground.
• At the time of the visit, there were 25 health workers and 291 patients remaining in Al-Shifa, with several patient deaths having occurred over the previous 2 to 3 days due to the shutting down of medical services.
• Patients included 33 babies in extremely critical condition,** two people in intensive care without ventilation**, and 22 dialysis patients whose access to life-saving treatment has been severely compromised.
• A second WHO-led joint UN mission, working in collaboration with the Palestine Red Crescent Society, evacuated 31 babies on 19 November from Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza, to a hospital in southern Gaza and 28 later to Egypt.
• On 22 November, in cooperation with the Palestine Red Crescent Society, a WHO-led joint UN mission evacuated 151 patients, relatives and health workers accompanying them from Al-Shifa hospital in northern Gaza. The mission was undertaken following specific requests from health authorities and hospital officials in Gaza.
• Most of the patients were ultimately transferred to the European Gaza Hospital, with the dialysis patients admitted to Al Najjar Hospital. Both facilities are in the south of Gaza.
• On 22 November, WHO and partners also undertook a mission to Al-Ahli Hospital in northern Gaza to assess medical priorities.
• For the past three days since 9 November, WHO has not received updated data on injuries and deaths from the Ministry of Health due to intensifying hostilities and limited connectivity. This makes it harder to evaluate the functioning of the health system.
• According to Israeli authorities, over 1200 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed, 5431 injured and 239 being held hostage since the hostilities started.

HEALTH RESPONSE

• 224 trucks with medical supplies were sent from Al Arish to be scanned and enter Gaza until 22 November, including 16 from WHO and other partners.
• Between 24-25 Oct, 30-31 Oct, 1 Nov and 9 Nov, WHO delivered medical supplies to:
  • Seven hospitals ( 2 in the north, 5 in the south)
  • Palestine Red Crescent to support ambulance operations.
  • UNRWA warehouse for onward distribution to approximately 8 UNRWA primary health care centers.

WHO RECOMMENDATIONS

• Immediate ceasefire.
• Establish and sustain protected humanitarian access for the immediate entry of adequate quantities of humanitarian supplies – including fuel, water, food, medicines, and other essential supplies – and personnel into the Gaza Strip and unimpeded access for patient evacuation.
• Prioritization of the shipment of fuel to operate desalination plants, hospital generators, ambulances.
• Sustained, orderly, unimpeded and safe medical evacuations of critically injured and sick patients into Egypt.
• Ensure safe passage for medical supplies and civilians within the Gaza Strip. Ensure WHO medical supplies can safely reach major hospitals in Gaza City and North Gaza and hospitals in south Gaza.
• Ensure the respect and the protection of health care as well as civilians and civilian infrastructure against attacks.
• Ensure the injured have immediate and unhindered access to health care.
• Ensure continuity of essential health services.
• Rapidly reinforce infectious disease surveillance and control measures.

FUNDING

• WHO released its Operational Response Plan October 2023 – January 2024 with a total budget of $110M. The operational plan supports (1) Health service delivery, including emergency medical teams and a few complementary field hospitals (2) Public health surveillance, early warning, disease prevention and control (3) Supplies and logistics support (4) Coordination.
• So far WHO has secured approximately $17.7M with additional $29.6M in pledged Funds form partners.
• The inter-cluster Flash Appeal has been revised and the funding requirement for humanitarian health response is $227.6M and is targeting 2.5M people in Gaza and West Bank.